Posted on 05/06/2012 8:48:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
One of Andrew Feffer's jobs is getting Washington Nationals fans to come to the ballpark. But this year, the team's chief operating officer has another goal: keeping Philadelphia Phillies fans out.
Since the baseball franchise left Montreal for Washington, D.C., in 2005, the Nationals pastime has been losing games. They haven't yet had a winning season. Meanwhile, their rivals 125 miles up I-95 have been one of the best teams in the game.
With seats in Philly's Citizens Bank Park hard to come by, Phillies fans have taken to descending on Nationals Park whenever their team pays a visit. Two years ago, Nationals fan Ryan Sullivan spent more than $600 on Opening Day tickets for himself and his father. The park was filled with Philadelphia supporters, whose team routed the Nationals 11-1. One overindulged Phillies fan threw up on Mr. Sullivan's shoes, he says. "They were so obnoxious."
A veteran sports marketer, Mr. Feffer joined the Nationals in 2010. As a Virginia native, he had long been irked by the way Philadelphia fans converged on Washington to cheer for their teams—hockey and football fans also contend with Flyers and Eagles fans from up north.
The last straw came Aug. 20, on what should have been a happy occasion: The Nationals set a single-game attendance record. The problem was that two-thirds of the crowd was rooting for Philadelphia, which won the game 5-0. Phillies fans created a sign across the bleachers that said: "Welcome to Citizens Bank Park South."
Something, Mr. Feffer says, "had to change."
His solution was a curveball: For the first series between the two teams this year, Friday through Sunday, he blocked single-game ticket sales outside the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Reminds me of Seattle. When the Boo Heys play here people from Vancouver just about take over the ballpark. At least they’re polite...
Only in D.C. would you rather not sell tickets than sell tickets.
Philadelphia fans have a reputation for being a**holes wherever they go. Why do you suppose that is?
As a Brewers season ticket holder, I can say that many Cubs fans are NOT polite. Cubs fans make me long for White Sox fans.
The only real way to keep out of town fans out of the seats is to build a strong, local fan base.
Our proximity to New Jersey?
“Why do you suppose that is?”
It still is? Some things never change, I guess. Philadelphia fans had a reputation for being a**holes at least as far back as the 1950’s.
In the American league it seemed to be White Sox fans. At least according to Mel Allen. Maybe they were just the biggest Yankee haters.
StubHub, tons of DC area fans bought extra tics and put them up on StubHub, no lack of Phillie Phans this past weekend.
Go to any ball park when the Red Sox are in town - anywhere in the country - and you’ll see a huge number of Red Sox fans there. I was watching the Red Sox play in Chicago at U.S. Cellular Field and even the radio broadcasters were commenting that it both looked and sounded more like a home game at Fenway.
Mostly democrats...
Just a guess..
Looks like his plan failed...
Phillies 9 Nationals 3
Aren’t Eagles fans supposedly obnoxious, too? Not just baseball.
Red Sox Fans...come to Baltimore to see their team play.
Lots of them.
Same thing happens when the Raiders play the Chargers in San Diego.Raider thugs,er, fans, descend, bedecked in chains, spikes,and leather.
Chris Matthews is their role model?
Yes, all Philly fans are a**holes.
Philles, 76ers, Eagles and Flyers.
All a**holes!
When I saw Roid Sux fans (spit) in the crowd at Arlington last year, I knew the Republic of Texas wasn’t long for the world. It was damned enjoyable to watch the locals twist in the wind watching Baltimore pound them at Fenway this weekend, though... :-)
Philadelphia morons are the lowest of low. No one would want them!
Yeah - at the Prudential Center (aka THE ROCK) where NJ Devils play have to contend with offensive NY Ranger scum
because tickets too expensive at Madison Square Garden
Exactly. Most obnoxious, lease knowledgeable, etc. I guess I would be pissed too if my team hadn't won in 104 years. F the flubs.
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